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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY AND DRILLING LAB
CGE 558

NAME : IDHAM ARIF ALAUDIN BIN SUDIN

(2015218706)
IZYAN SYIFAA BINTI ABDULLAH
(2015237096)
IZZATI AZRI BINTI MOHD RIDHWAN TEO
(2015664372)
LAILA SYAHMINA BINTI MOHAMAD DAHLAN
(2015218456)
EXPERIMENT : EXPERIMENT 1: DRILLING MUD DENSITIES
DATE PERFORMED : 20 OCTOBER 2016
SEMESTER : 3
NO TITLE ALLOCATED MARKS
MARKS (%)
1. ABSTRACT / SUMMARY 5

2. INTRODUCTION 5

3. AIMS / OBJECTIVES 5

4. THEORY 5

5. APPARATUS 5

6. PROCEDURES 10

7. RESULT 10

8. CALCULATIONS 10

9. DISCUSSION 20

10. CONCLUSIONS 10
11. RECOMMENDATIONS 5
12. REFERENCES 5
13. APPENDICES 5
TOTAL 100
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REMARKS:

CHECKED BY:
TABLE OF CONTENT

NO. TITLE PAGES

1.0 Abstract/Summary 3

2.0 Introduction 4

3.0 Aims/Objectives 4

4.0 Theory 5

5.0 Apparatus 6

6.0 Procedures 7

7.0 Results 8

8.0 Calculations 9

9.0 Discussion 10

10.0 Conclusion 12

11.0 Recommendations 13

12.0 References 13

13.0 Appendices 14

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 ABSTRACT

In this experiment, we want to determine the density and specific gravity of the mud. The
equipment used in these experiments is hydrometer and mud balances which to determine the
density of drilling fluid. The Mud Balance provides a simple, practical method for the accurate
determination of fluid density. To get the accurate reading of the balance, the weight balance
should be adjusted and ensure the water level to be at the middle when getting the reading of the
mud balance and a hydrometer is used to measure the specific gravity (SG) of liquids; that is, the
ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water. There are two types of mud that used in
this experiment; water-based mud (WBM) and oil-based mud (OBM). Water-based mud is the
mud composed that have major weight of water compared than the other composition. Oil-based
mud is mud which had major weight of oil. For the first test, one of the muds are used to fill-in
the mud balance to calculate the density and follow by hydrometer to measure the specific
gravity. The test is repeated by using the other type of mud.

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 INTRODUCTION

The determination of drilling mud densities is simply an experiment on determination the

densities of different sample of drilling mud. In geotechnical engineering, drilling fluid is used to
aid the drilling of boreholes into the earth. Often used while drilling oil and natural gas wells and
on exploration drilling rigs, drilling fluids are also used for much simpler boreholes, such as
water wells. Liquid drilling fluid is often called drilling mud. The three main categories of
drilling fluids are water-based muds (which can be dispersed and non-dispersed), non-aqueous
muds, usually called oil-based mud, and gaseous drilling fluid, in which a wide range of gases
can be used.

In this experiment however, we used oil-based mud and water-based mud only. They are
already made in the laboratory. There are many uses of drilling mud. The main function is to
provide hydrostatic pressure to prevent formation fluids from entering into the wellbore and also
to ensure the drill bit is cool and clean during drilling. A density of specific mud is measured to
know which mud is best used for specific well bore.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

To determine the densities of different sample of drilling mud

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 THEORY

The definition of density is a measurement of fluid weight per unit of volume. For
drilling fluid (drilling mud) it is often referred to as mud weight. In the oil industry, mud
weight is the density of the drilling fluid and is normally measured in pounds per gallon (lbm/gal)
or (ppg). In the field it is measured using a balance. It is usually reported to the nearest 0.1
lbs/gal or ppg. To avoiding excessive lost returns to the formation, the mud density is
monitored closely. It is also to fulfil the dual role of opposing formation pressures.

The most important equipment that we going to use to determine the densities of drilling
mud are hydrometer and mud balance. A hydrometer is created to measure the specific gravity
(SG) of liquids which is the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density. For your extra
knowledge, the result of determination of drilling mud density might be more accurate by using a
hydrometer compared to mud balance. Directly measurement of the mud density is provided by
using mud balance. The common units for the mud densities given by the mud balance are lbs/ft3,
psi/1000ft and Specific Gravity (SG)..

The oil-base drilling fluids become denser than water-base drilling fluids at high
temperatures and pressures. They presented experimental measurements of densities in the
temperature range of 70 F to 400 F and pressure range of 0. The drilling fluid will be subjected
to increasing pressure and temperature. The higher pressures will increases the drilling fluid
density.

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 APPARATUS

1. Mud balance
2. Hydrometer
3. Measuring cylinder

MATERIAL

1. Oil-based Mud (OBM)

2. Water-based Mud (WBM)

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 PROCEDURES

Experiment 1 : Determination of drilling mud densities using hydrometer

1. A 500ml of measuring cylinder was filled with oil-based mud within reading of 400ml.
2. The most suitable hydrometer was chosen to measure the specific gravity.
3. Inspection was done on the hydrometer to ensure it is clean and dry.
4. The hydrometer was placed carefully in the measuring cylinder.
5. It was then being spun a little bit and the reading on hydrometer was recorded.
6. Experiment was repeated for 3 times to get the average reading.
7. Step 1-6 were repeated using water-based mud.

Experiment 2 : Determination of drilling mud densities using mud balance

1. The cup of mud balance was filled with water and tested to ensure the accuracy of its reading.
2. The cup of mud balance was filled with oil-based mud.
3. The lid was placed on the cup and seated firmly. Ensure that some of the mud spilled out
through the hole on the lid.
4. The reading of density of the mud was recorded in unit ppg.
5. Step 1-4 was repeated 3 times to get average value.
6. The whole experiment was repeated using water-based mud.
7. The readings then compared with readings of hydrometer.

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 RESULTS

1. Specific gravity readings of hydrometer for different types of drilling muds:

Type of mud Specific Gravity (SG) Readings

1st reading 2nd reading 3rd reading Average reading

Oil-based mud 2.22 2.21 2.20 2.21

Water-based 1.35 1.36 1.35 1.35

mud

2. Density readings of mud balance for different types of drilling muds:

Type of mud Density Readings (ppg)

1st reading 2nd reading 3rd reading Average reading

Oil-based mud 19.1 19.1 19.1 19.1

Water-based 11.0 11.2 11.1 11.1

mud

3. Average densities for different types of drilling muds for both methods:

Method
Density ( )
Oil-based mud Water-based mud
Hydrometer 2210 1350
Mud balance 2290 1330

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 CALCULATIONS

Oil-based mud

1. Using mud balance:

2.29 SG x1000 = 2290 kg/m3

2. Using hydrometer :

1ppg = 0.12SG

2.21SG x 1000 = 2210 kg/m3

Water-based mud

1. Using mud balance :

1.33 SG x1000= 1330 kg/m3

2. Using hydrometer :

1ppg = 0.12SG

1.35 SG x1000= 1350 kg/m3

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 DISCUSSION

The experiment is conducted due to a few objectives which are to determine the densities
of different sample of drilling mud and to observe the densities of drilling mud using two
different apparatus which is mud balance and hydrometer.
There is difference between reading taken using mud balance and hydrometer. By using
mud balance, the reading for oil based mud and water based mud are 2.29 SG and 2.21 SG.
While using hydrometer, the reading are 2.21 SG and 1.35SG. From the specific gravity
obtained, we could calculate the density for both oil based mud and water based mud. Density of
oil-based drilling mud and water-based drilling mud using mud balance apparatus are 2290
kg/m3 and 1330 kg/m3 respectively. By using hydrometer, the density of oil-based drilling mud
and water-based drilling mud are 2210 kg/m3 and 1350 kg/m3 respectively. From the result
obtained, it clearly shows that the density of oil based mud is higher than the water based mud.
Mud balance is a more accurate tool to acquire specific gravity of mud. It is because
hydrometer is actually unreliable in drilling fluid because of gelation based on Schlumberger
oilfield glossary in 2011. The volume of space occupied by entrapped gas or air bubbles in a
sample fluid may distort the accuracy of the fluid density measurement. This distortion can be
significantly reduced by pressurizing the fluid. The density of a fluid containing entrained air or
gas can be determined more accurately by using a pressurized fluid density balance which is mud
balance.
Measurement using hydrometer involves indeterminate errors cause a measuring process
to give different values of densities when that measurement is repeated many times. The effect
that indeterminate errors have on results can be somewhat reduced by taking repeated
measurements then calculating their average. The average is generally considered to be a better
representation of the true value than any single measurement, because errors of positive and
negative sign tend to compensate each other in the averaging process. In a comparison, mud
balance will a definite reading as we first do a careful calibration of that apparatus. There is no
different values of densities and indeterminate errors.

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 Plus, hydrometer is not very suitable to be used for measuring mud density because it is
fragile. Most importantly, before measuring using hydrometer, the most suitable hydrometer
scale must be first determined. The reason is hydrometer has varies scale and only one
hydrometer will suit for certain type of fluid density. Therefore, this trials and error method is
also complicated and time consuming. As compared to mud balance, it provides a simple,
practical method for the accurate determination of fluid density. Most importantly, it contains no
easily broken parts like hydrometer. The item's durable construction makes it is ideal for field
use.
From the result obtained, there is a slightly error when taking the reading of oil based
mud using hydrometer. Parallax error occurred as our eyes are not perpendicular to the meniscus
reading. Supposedly, the density of both drilling mud using mud balance apparatus are smaller
than using the hydrometer. This is due to the accuracy of the mud balance apparatus is higher
than the accuracy of the hydrometer. Thus, the apparatus give the different reading of density.

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 CONCLUSION

From the results obtained, we can conclude that oil based mud has a higher density
compared to water based mud. And we can also say that to calculate density, it is better to use the
mud balance compared to using hydrometer.
When applying the concept in a real life industry, mud density can be increased by adding
other substances in. For example, a very common weighting materials added are such as barite,
hematite, galena, calcium carbonate and dissolved salts. As the density increases, the specific
gravity also increases.
Muds are chosen according to its compatibility with the formation. For example, when
drilling a horizontal well to extract shale gas, it is not advisable to use water based mud. This is
because the water can swell the shale formation. Hence oil based mud is chosen as it can support
the shale formation and the oil molecules cannot penetrate into the tiny pores of the formation
through capillary pressure. Oil based mud has the ability to stabilize the well better compared to
a water based mud.
After drilling, the mud will be transported back to the surface and undergoes a few
processes in order for it to be reused again. The mud density is taken into serious consideration
as a slight difference of the mud density could mean that there is something going on in the
formation.

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 RECOMMENDATION
1. Make sure the apparatus is cleaned and dried properly to avoid error in obtaining the
specific gravity and density.
2. Choose the correct hydrometer among the hydrometers supplied.
3. Pour an ample amount of mud into the measuring cylinder (about 400ml) to get the
hydrometer reading. Too much or too little mud poured could lead into difficulties of
obtaining the reading.
4. Make sure the observers eye is at the meniscus level to avoid getting parallax error.
5. When pouring the mud sample into the cup of the mud balance, make sure it overflows to
get rid or air bubbles or any impurities that might be in the cup. This way the most
accurate value can be obtained.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/advantages-disadvantages-water-oil-based-mud-lily-z-
2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_weight
3. www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Terms/m/mud_density.aspx
4. http://petrowiki.org/Drilling_fluid_types
5. http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms/o/oil-base_mud.aspx

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APPENDICES

Mud Balance

Hydrometer

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